Buying your first Fixed Gear

You’ve decided you want a fixed gear and you want a new bike. Well your lucky most of the bicycle manufacturers now offer at least one fixed gear model in their line. Most prices range from $569 to $1000. Things you want to look at Frame size find out your correct size. Frame material Steel, Aluminum or Carbon Fiber. Everything else can be changed or upgrated. Frame material- I recommend steel. 1) it offers a better ride than aluminum. More shock absorbing. 2) Holds up better in a crash than aluminum or carbon. 3) Usually a better price than aluminum or carbon. Only negative which is not really a negative – it weighs more. Weight on fixed gear bikes is not that crucial since they usually weigh less than most Road Bikes. Remember Fixed Gears have no shifters, derailleurs, freewheel or cassette thus lighter. If your racing on the track then get an aluminum or carbon fiber race frame. For the street go steel or aluminum. The only advantage an aluminum frame has over steel is weight. With aluminum you have a harsher ride and in a crash it doesn’t hold up as well as steel. Also steel can be bent back in shape and welded. Not usually the case with aluminum. It’s your money so ride both and see what you like. Here is a list of new model fixed gear bikes. Bianchi- Pista, Cannondale- Capo, Giant- Bowery, KHS- Flite 100, Raleigh- Rush Hour, Schwinn- Madison, Specialized- Langster, Surly-Steam Roller a couple others worth looking at Dolan and Felt also have models. These are just a few of the better known bikes available.

www.bianchiusa.com, www.cannondale.com, www.giant-bicycles.com, www.khsbicycles.com, www.raleighusa.com, www.schwinn.com, www.specialized.com, www.surlybikes.com